Alex, an Indonesian artist and student, is navigating the vibrant creative landscape of New York City, drawing from a rich well of cultural heritage and personal experience to inform their work. Currently studying Communication Design at the Parsons School of Design, Alex’s artistic journey has evolved from a foundation in fine art portraiture to a dynamic exploration of graphic design, bookmaking, and digital media. This evolution is marked by a deep appreciation for impressionistic techniques, a playful sense of humour, and a powerful connection to their Indonesian roots.
Having grown up in Jakarta, art has always been a natural calling for Alex. ‘I used to do fine arts, especially portraiture and painting,’ they explain. This background is evident in their choice of mediums; they gravitate towards chalky pastels, charcoal, and oil paints. ‘They aren’t easy to work with but are more manipulatable,’ Alex notes, preferring the malleability and the visible texture they offer. This love for tangible marks is inspired by impressionist art. ‘I like seeing the marks left behind and how they all work together… I like it when the strokes are visible.’
Now immersed in the world of digital design, Alex is finding innovative ways to make their work ‘very loud’ and fun. This often involves weaving in elements of their Indonesian culture. Having moved to New York, Alex has developed a newfound appreciation for the visual language of their home. They have been exploring the concept of ‘undesigned design’, finding fascination in the raw, necessity-driven creativity of signs for street-side stalls, or warungs. ‘In Indonesia, people make these signs out of necessity, whereas in America, design seems to have lost some of its heart,’ they observe. This contrast fuels their work, allowing them to bring ‘parts of home to a place that didn't feel like home’.
This cultural infusion is deeply personal, appearing in works like a triptych inspired by the story of the Kuntilanak (a female vampiric ghost in folklore) and another piece exploring the fear-based discipline experienced during their upbringing. Through patterns and themes, Alex’s art becomes a bridge between two worlds.
Before their current focus on design, Alex’s work centred on capturing emotion through portraiture. ‘I enjoy drawing and painting faces because much can be inferred from them,’ they say, noting a particular focus on the eyes, which they feel matter most. They masterfully use the interplay of light and shadow to convey character and feeling, as seen in a portrait of their father. ‘I did a piece on my dad, emphasising the highlights and the shadows on his face to show his age and stress.’ This dramatic use of contrast creates a profound emotional depth.
Studying at Parsons has pushed Alex to explore unfamiliar mediums, a process that has taught them valuable lessons about ambition and satisfaction. Tasked with creating a 3D wire hand sculpture, they initially struggled. ‘I realised that starting with a basic concept and doing it well would be simpler and better than trying to do something ambitiously and ending up unsatisfied,’ they reflect. This was a pivotal moment of learning to find a compromise between ambition and contentment.
Alex’s creative process is often sparked by spontaneous rushes of motivation. ‘A lot of times, I just picture something,’ they say. They tend to dive into an idea quickly with a haphazard sketch to avoid getting bogged down by details. For a recent tour poster project, they began by throwing elements onto a page before researching traditional ‘wanted posters’ and contrasting fonts. Music is a constant companion in this process, helping to set the mood and drive the work forward.
Recently, a cheekier, more playful side has emerged in Alex’s art. A project centred on the word ‘mantra’ became a satirical commentary on Western spiritual tourism in Bali. ‘I kind of wanted to poke fun at that,’ they admit. Using clashing, saturated colours and imagery from a ‘Bali tourist starter kit’—Bintang shirts, flip-flops, and surfboards—they created a piece that is both humorous and critical. ‘If I'm not having fun with it, I won't enjoy it as much,’ Alex asserts.
Looking ahead, Alex hopes to merge their passions by pursuing a career in creative direction, particularly in the music industry. They are fascinated by the concept of the visual album, a medium that transforms storytelling from song into a complete sensory experience. This ambition is already taking shape in projects like a book designed as a TV, exploring childhood memories through emotional ‘episodes’ and nostalgic ‘commercial breaks’.
One of their most significant recent pieces is The Rebirth of An Old Soul, a mixed-media work reflecting on their journey of self-discovery and queerness. After leaving a homogenous and competitive environment in Jakarta, Alex found the freedom in New York to shed their past self and embrace who they truly are. The piece combines an oil painting with photos from both Jakarta and New York, layered over a hand-drawn pattern connected to home. For Alex, this rebirth is not about erasure. ‘By reimagining and reinventing myself, I'm not fully letting go; everything is still there.’
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Want to learn more about Alex’s artistic vision and their unique blend of culture, emotion, and playfulness? Read the full interview in GROUNDING, the 4th volume of INTERLUNAR's zine.
